Putin says he expects nothing from Ukraine, he just wants Ukrainians to love Russians

President Putin said that the main thing in the relationship with Ukraine is that the Ukrainian authorities should respect the interests of the Russians and Russian-speaking people.

Answering the question about the relationship between the Russian Federation and Ukraine during the "direct line", Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he expected nothing from the Ukrainian government, Joinfo.ua reports.

"Russia expects nothing from the Ukrainian government. Today, we are waiting for only one thing – to be treated as equal partners. The most important part is observance of the legitimate rights of the Russians in Ukraine and those, who consider themselves as Russians in Ukraine, regardless of what is written in their passports. Those, who love and think of the Russian language and Russian culture as of their own and sense the inextricable connection with Russia. We are interested in normalization of relations.

The problem of the Donbas is on the agenda. It is necessary to create working groups within the Minsk process and start working – constitutional reform, border, etc.," said Putin.